Trio Denied Bail in Newborn Baby Trafficking Case

Munyaradzi Mashiri

Zim Now Writer

A Harare court has denied bail to three individuals accused of selling a newborn baby for US$180. The accused, a 16-year-old girl, her 47-year-old mother, and Dion Tore, 34, appeared before magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa at the Harare Magistrates' Courts facing charges of human trafficking.

The allegations stem from an illegal arrangement to sell the baby, born to the teenage girl, to Tore for US$180. The trio is set to return to court on Thursday for the co-joining of their records with other implicated accomplices.

In her ruling, Magistrate Gofa criticised the teenager's mother for failing to provide a logical defense, stating that as a parent, she should have guided her child in a better manner. Gofa also dismissed Tore's claims, noting her failure to explain why she falsified hospital records.

“Mere denials can't be accepted in this court. She failed to explain why she doctored the hospital document and provided no defense for consideration,” Gofa said.

The State, represented by prosecutor Mercy Masamvi, alleges that the trio conspired to arrange an illegal adoption of the baby. Tore reportedly wanted the child due to her struggles with recurrent miscarriages.

In January, the teenager’s mother met Tore through a WhatsApp group named "Sora neMiti," where she shared details of her daughter’s pregnancy and consideration of abortion. Tore expressed interest in adopting the child and later met with the teenager in Harare.

On February 22, they conducted a pregnancy scan, which confirmed the baby was a girl, seven months and three weeks old. Subsequently, the teenager was taken to Sally Mugabe Hospital, where Tore allegedly colluded with nurses Betty Patricia Sena and Jestina Mashamba to induce premature labor.

The baby was born on February 25, and on March 5, the teenager handed the newborn over to Tore at the hospital. To conceal the transaction, Tore is accused of fabricating a death certificate for the baby.

Between May and August, Tore allegedly paid the teenager’s mother US$180 via EcoCash as part of the arrangement.

The trio’s scheme unraveled after a tip-off to Murehwa police led to their arrest. Nurse Mashamba, implicated in the case, appeared separately before magistrate Donald Ndirowei over the weekend and was remanded in custody pending a bail ruling set for Thursday.

The teenager has since been placed in the custody of the Social Welfare Department, while the baby, now nine months old, is reportedly in safe care.